The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4th 1923

Hokitika Guardian, 4 April 1923, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4th 1923

EMPIRE DEVELOPMENT. The debate in the Commons last week on emigration within the Empire, draws attention to a most important aspect of Imperial life. The Antipodes, no less than Canada and South Afiicn, can afford to take a deep interest in the matter, because there are many aching voids in the oversea dominions in need of a peopling policy. Great Britain, and England, in particular, has a.vast army of unemployed. These citizens of the Empire would be more useful to the notion overseas where work could be created lor them, if the country wore at all adequately settled. Britain has an Empire Settlement Act which Ims been but feebly put in motion so far, but a more definite move is promised under the Overseas Department which is now part of the British Ministry. All countries within the Empire will have the opportunity of participating in the possible accession of population under the scheme, which is now becoming a ical political question. It is expected some 75,000 people will migrate from Britain this year, and the country which best can cater for possible citizens of our own kith and kin, will, of course, be the most favored with the patronage. New Zealand .should make a special effort to offer a policy of immigration which will draw the right class of people to our shores. The Industrial Associations can be very useful to the Government in the task

referred to. Now that the Associations of the Dominion are closely incorporated. the executive of that body has full knowledge of the industrial '■opacity of the country, and in what direction employees of the right type can he placed. Then, in regard to farming and placing people on the land, the Government has its own Agricultural arid Lands Departments tc advise it, and in both instances a progrossite policy should he built up. The Government is doing a good deal in .Tiding to the available lands for settlement, but there are other directions in which action can bo taken no less usefully. Where private ownership o! land is too large for practical use by the owner through lack of means or otherwise, the Government should come to tlm rescue, and assist in the cutting up of tlie land for small farmers. In all such eases where the Government helped the right could he retained to (ix the selling price or leasing value of the land, and the Government could well go some length in aiding the farmer placed on the land t.: bring it into profit. The Lands In; Settlement policy of the Liberal regime, together with the cheap money scheme for those on the land, aided progress of New Zealand immensely. The broken fine of action should be retrieved and taken up afresh and if worked in with tlie, all British immigration scheme great good would he done the country by establishing the right class of permanent settlors on the land. It is conceivable that such a scheme would lie of great value to Westland. There is much country along this Coast which can he utilised as suggested if the district gets a fair deal. Tile land value here are uniformly low, which is an attractive basis for an immigration scheme. The prosperity of Westland in the future will come largely from the yi'-ld from the land. Much of it though inivatilv owned is not used to any extent. More cultivation is needed. Tile land needs cleaning up and regular usage. It a campaign wete launched towards that- end it would make a great difference to local advancement. This is a question of special concern, and considered in conjunction with any possible (not to say probable) immigration scheme, might mean a great deal to the comparatively immediate advancement of the district in permanent laud settlementtin' great aid to assured provincial prosperity. Here is a. subject for local 'bodies, chambers of commerce, and progress leagues to giapple v.ith. and in particular fore; upon the Government for active attention while the opening is so good and attractive.